Groan........


http://www.twincities.com/timberwolves/ci_7262431


- Taylor said he plans to offer an extension in the neighborhood of five years and $50 million to $60 million:

\"My guess is the guarantee is going to be closer to the 50 and the bonuses are going to get you to the 60, or something like that,\" Taylor said. \"I don't think we'd do anything less than that. They're going to ask for more than that.\"

- Taylor said he would not offer Jefferson a maximum contract extension.

College Wolf wrote:
Awesome, everythings falling into place for us to be the worst team in the NBA for years to come!!

First off, it depends on the bonuses, whether this is bad or not. If the stipulations for the bonuses basically boil down to, \"you don't break your leg and never play again\", then that's fine. He could just be covering his butt as Jefferson has had some injuries in the past.

Also, I don't see anything wrong with making it known that Jefferson won't be getting a max deal. He's done nothing to earn it, and I think even he knows it as he said he'd sign for less than the max. If he starts demanding the max, that's when I start shopping him around for draft picks.

DeROK wrote:

I dunno... I guess I partly agree, but not completely.

We've had this discussion in other threads. I just hope we sign him before the deadline, that's all.

Well I feel we see how he does this year, then we up his contract, if he does great this year up it, if not dont.

Jefferson will be here in the long run whether he signs an extension or not. Taylor has made it clear that if he doesn't get locked up, the Wolves would match any offer this off-season. No matter how big it might be. He said there are risks for both sides if a deal isn't completed.

TwinsTerritory wrote:
Fair enough, good points TT.

Be careful what you wish for. There is no better recipe for a bad team than having a guy on a long max contract who isn't a legitimate star. And you have double the trouble if a guy is injury prone. Look at Kenyon Martin on the Nuggets. I'm not saying that describes Al Jefferson... but it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

K-Marts main problem was he was always injured..If L-mart hadnt been injured as badly as he was, he would have become a star.

Now i dont know if big-al has had many injuries, but i think he will become a star if he stays healthy

pants wrote:
Yeah, the Jefferson contract is going to be the foundation we build this next generation of Timberwolves around. We have to make it solid. Overpaying for Al will put us behind the eight ball just like, but not to the same degree, KG's contract did. He has to be signed reasonably to give this team flexibility to build around him.

It would be much better for him to settle for 60 million and rake in millions in endorsements when the Wolves are good, than to go for 80 million and spend his career in the NBA's basement.

DeROKVery good point DeROK! I am thinking just the same, but sadly, a lot of athletes seem more focused on what their contract will earn them today and for sure, instead of considering that what is best for the team might also be very good for them in the long run, both finacially and for their career as players.

But maybe some players fear to suffer a career ending injury someday and therefore try to cash in now on a huge guaranteed contract? Or maybe it's more their agents, who are probably paid with respect of the contracts they get for their clients and might be afraid they will be fired from one day to the other and won't be able to benefit from the future riches their client might make...and I guess the agents have near to no interest in the success of the teams as long as they can cash in on their clients.

Sanyarin wrote:

Great, great point. Most agents are such slimy bastards.